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January 21, 2008
DEVELOPING: Explosion in Downtown, LAPD Officer Injured
First Responders to the scene of an underground explosion in downtown Los Angeles | Photo by Callie Miller/LAist
The 4th St. bridge and 3rd Street is closed between Alameda and Central due to an explosion at 637 E. 3rd St. Unknown in nature at this point, the explosion left one LAPD officer with minor injuries who was transported to the hospital. Another officer in the patrol car was not hurt.
According to Don Allen, a dogwalker who witnessed the incident from 20 feet away, the explosion sounded larger than what he saw in the resulting smoke. "I heard a loud explosion, stopped in my tracks and saw some white smoke." He also said that the police were already on the scene before the explosion setting off flares.
Before the explosion, a LAPD unit on routine patrol driving 3rd Street spotted smoke coming up from a manhole near Alameda, proceeded to call the fire department and began to block traffic. "As the LAFD Engine Company arrived, the Officer drove to the Fire Department's location and parked his patrol car to block traffic - and by happenstance, parked atop a distant manhole," LAFD Spokeman Brian Humphrey explained in a phone interview and followed up with in a comment on LAist.
"Moments after he exited the patrol car (to point out the formerly smoking manhole to LAFD personnel), an explosion occurred in the manhole he inadvertently parked above." Luckily, he was not hit be debris, but felt lower back pain and strain, probably due to the inertia of the blast. He was reported to be in good spirits and laughing about the situation soon after. The forceful explosion damaged the undercarriage of his Ford Crown Victoria
Around five bomb squad vehicles responded to the scene and pedestrian access was cut off.
The underground, maybe electric-related, explosion was reported to the Los Angeles Fire Department at 2:21 p.m. this afternoon prompting no evacuation or escalating hazard, according to LAFD spokesperson Brian Humphrey. 3rd Street remains closed between Alameda and Central as the City's Department of Water and Power investigates a spontaneous matter that appears to be purely within their domain, he said.
Callie Miller contributed to this report with photos and interview subject findings
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There are seven news and LAPD helicopters flying over my head right now in the Arts District.
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And following up on Zach's earlier post, don't look for anything about this at the Daily News web site, where there's a photo of a poor little doggie wearing a sweater because, you know, it's so cold. News of the explosion is also absent from the LA Times web page, where they've got a very important story about Steven Colbert, featuring a photo of this portrait at the National Portrait Gallery.
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Zach,
Thanks for sharing word of what remains an active investigation.
What we now know is that a uniformed male Officer in a marked patrol unit was driving down 3rd Street when he noticed light smoke coming from a manhole cover near Alameda.
The Officer called for routine LAFD response, and we were on the scene in less than 5 minutes.
As the LAFD Engine Company arrived, the Officer drove to the Fire Department's location and parked his patrol car to block traffic - and by happenstance, parked atop a distant manhole.
Moments after he exited the patrol car (to point out the formerly smoking manhole to LAFD personnel), an explosion occurred in the manhole he inadvertently parked above.
The forceful explosion damaged the undercarriage of his Ford Crown Victoria, but there was no fire. The Officer was not struck by any debris, but did complain of back pain, for which he was taken to an area hospital in good condition.
3rd Street remains closed between Alameda and Central as the City's Department of Water and Power investigates a spontaneous matter that appears to be purely within their domain.
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
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...along with visiting LAist.com, anyone who wishes to stay on top of LAFD Breaking News can visit:
lafd.org/alert
Or if you Twitter...
lafd.org/twitter
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department